Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe is a nostalgic childhood recipe that brings back a flood of memories from the past. I bet you've had so many sloppy joes in the past. Sometimes in the school cafeteria, sometimes at the kitchen table with family, and sometimes when you feel absolutely lonely on a friday night and make it for yourself. And you've probably seen many more "The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe".

However, this is one of the simplest Sloppy Joe Recipe on the internet.

I am an old-school person, and I don't mess with recipes from the past. Just like this Best Meatloaf Recipe, this Old-fashioned Sloppy Joe recipe is taken from my grandma.

Until today, I've had many sloppy joes, but none compares to the one she would make - a perfect combination of sweet, zesty, savory, and tangy.

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe - a perfect Sweet & Salty Balance!

She is no more, but I wish the world gets to know how amazing of a cook she was.

As per old fashioned original sloppy joe recipe, I prefer making a simple sloppy joe sauce from scratch.

I know these days, you can find store-bought sauce so easily. But homemade sloppy joe sauce is so good, comforting, and nostalgic.

Ingredients to make a good sloppy joe recipe

It takes only a few minutes to stir the ingredients for sloppy joe at home. And it is pretty likely that you'll already be having these ingredients in your pantry or in your fridge.

1. Extra Lean Ground Beef
2. onions
3. bell pepper
4. salt
5. pepper
6. garlic powder or fresh garlic
7. brown sugar
8. canned tomato sauce
9. ketchup
10. mustard
11. Worcestershire sauce (optional)
12. paprika (optional)

How to make Homemade Sloppy Joes

• STEP 1: Cook Ground Beef

I always use extra lean ground beef. My granny would make the sauce right into the pan. So, she would never drain it. We would use the drippings to sauté our onions and bell peppers in the next step.

• STEP 2: Sauté bell peppers and onions

Once you see your ground beef oozing out all of the fat, you want to add your onions and bell peppers. Cook it in the drippings. You're gonna cook it until your meat is fully cooked through and the veggies have softened.

FYI: if you use fresh chopped garlic, you'd want to sauté them right after the veggies have softened for 30-45 seconds.

• STEP 3: Season it Up!

This is where you ditch that store-bought sauce and use your basic pantry staples. Season it with salt, pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, canned tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

• STEP 4: Simmer until the flavors come together

Stir lightly and simmer for at least 20 minutes or until the flavors come together and the sauce is thick.

• STEP 5: Serve

There are a lot of ways to serve sloppy joe. I like to spoon the sloppy joe filling onto the buns simply. You can layer the bun with more mustard and ketchup if you want.

Serve with some side salads, potato chips, thin slices of pickles, or my favorite Slow cooked Baked Beans with Bacon and Maple Syrup.

More Ideas to Serve Sloppy Joes

Wondering What do you eat with sloppy joes? Here are some more suggestions.

1. Serve it in the form of a casserole. Just as you do with Sweet Corn Casserole
2. Serve it in the form of a taco or quesadilla.
3. Add cooked macaroni pasta and make some sloppy joe mac and cheese.
4. Spoon it in hot dogs and make serve it the way you serve your The Best No Nonsense Philly Cheesesteak
5. Layer it into a Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich
6. Serve it with tater tots.

How to toast Hamburger Buns

1. Add 2 tablespoons of Butter on your griddle over medium heat.
2. Place hamburger buns and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly toasted.

Cooking Variations

• You could use bacon grease or chicken grease to sauté onions and bell peppers and remove it in a bowl. Then, use more grease to cook ground beef
• You could whip up the sauce separately in a bowl. Stir well and pour it directly into the pan.

Tips to save you from making "floppy joes"

• Make sure you use the best possible high-quality ingredients for the best results.
• Avoid using store-bought sauce.
• Sloppy Joes are supposed to have a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tanginess. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, feel free to add more brown sugar. Or, if you want to avoid brown sugar altogether, you could swap it with maple syrup or honey.
• Use the best quality buns, or make them at home.
• If you are making a double batch, then I would recommend you double the canned tomato sauce.

Can I use Turkey Meat?

Yup. No doubt about that. You can use this same recipe to make sloppy joe using turkey meat. You'll have to replace ground beef with ground turkey.

More Popular Ground Beef Recipes

1. Easy Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
2. Ground Beef and Rice Bowls with Asian Glaze
3. Beef Shish Kebab